EPS with active steering 24 V (commercial vehicles)

Electric/electro-hydraulic power steering (EPS/EHPS) - active steering for 24 V commercial vehicles in different variants

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Overview

Commercial vehicles like trucks, construction machines, and agricultural vehicles, require an increasing level of eco-friendliness. These vehicles also need to operate at the highest possible availability and achieve the lowest possible total cost of ownership. To meet these demands, Infineon is continually enhancing its semiconductor and system solutions by developing innovative and efficient technologies that cater to the evolving market needs.

Benefits

  • Powerful, scalable, small footprint
  • Proven interoperability
  • Fail-safe and fail-operational EPS
  • Aligned safety concept
  • Energy savings and CO₂ reduction
  • Adaptable: Software updates
  • Scalable: Meet future requirements

Block diagram

About

Advanced semiconductor solutions for eco-friendly commercial vehicles

Driver assistance systems are expected to increase even more in the commercial vehicle market, especially for reducing the risk of accidents, reaching efficient consumption, and better TCO for commercial vehicles. 

Even political regulations will have a significant influence on the future of mobility. The upcoming CO₂ emission regulations have a strong impact on commercial vehicles, such as buses, trucks, and forklifts. 

Electrification of loads and higher voltages are needed as a contribution to a better and greener world. Hence, the new steering for heavy-duty vehicles is motivated by major 3 trends: CO₂ reduction, upcoming Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving stages, as well as recommendations for costs of insurance (because safer cars will have lower insurance costs). These three factors call for more technical optimizations. China, the USA, and all European regions are affected by these trends and will inevitably implement new electronics-based system solutions.

Full EHPS power steering at anytime

EHPS (Electro-hydraulic power steering) is a crucial technology for reducing CO₂ emissions in commercial vehicles. By providing the right amount of torque assistance, EHPS enables the efficient operation of hydraulic steering systems, which is essential for the smooth and precise maneuvering of these vehicles. This technology is particularly effective in reducing energy consumption and emissions, as it only provides assistance when needed, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy expenditure. Furthermore, EHPS allows for full EHPS power steering at any time, ensuring that the vehicle's steering system remains responsive and reliable, even in demanding driving conditions. As the automotive industry continues to focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, EHPS is poised to play an increasingly important role in the development of eco-friendly commercial vehicles.

Various EPS and EHPS solutions for active steering

ECU1/Level 0-1: EHPS - Pure electro-hydraulic steering benefits (basic and variable EHPS)

  • Fuel savings of 0.9 to 1.2%
  • CO₂ reduction of 6 to 11 g/km

At the same time, using limited sensors, basic EHPS has lower safety requirements compared to more complex steering systems. Due to the need for more automated driving Level 2 and higher, the EHPS and full EPS is and will be state of the art.

ECU2/Level 2: EPS with active steering benefits

  • Using EHPS for base functionality
  • Adding 1x 3-ph motor to generate torque overlay
  • Motivation: reduced accident and insurance costs, active lane keep assist

Level 3-5: Fail-operational EPS benefits

  • Full fault-tolerant steering
  • Different variants in design
  • Variants using hydraulic power
  • Variants using electric-only power steering
  • Synergies with fault-tolerant EPS for cars
  • Motivation: highly automated trucks (Level 3, Level 4)
Designed for 24 V trucks, buses, construction & agricultural vehicles

EHPS system with active lane following represents the current level of truck automation. ECU2 controls a three-phase motor (M2) acting directly on the steering wheel shaft to provide the torque overlay for system functions such as lane keep assist, lane centering function, or lane-keep steering function.

ECU1 and the three-phase motor (M1) drive the hydraulic pump, replacing the traditional belt drive from the engine. The oil pressure is maintained by an accumulator, which smooths the peak demand so that the M1 motor needs only a relatively low power rating of about 500 W. The sensors provide data on the actual steering wheel position and torque. Combined with additional data via the CAN bus on vehicle speed, lane identification, and object detection, this system allows for higher levels of driver assistance and drive automation.

Advanced semiconductor solutions for eco-friendly commercial vehicles

Driver assistance systems are expected to increase even more in the commercial vehicle market, especially for reducing the risk of accidents, reaching efficient consumption, and better TCO for commercial vehicles. 

Even political regulations will have a significant influence on the future of mobility. The upcoming CO₂ emission regulations have a strong impact on commercial vehicles, such as buses, trucks, and forklifts. 

Electrification of loads and higher voltages are needed as a contribution to a better and greener world. Hence, the new steering for heavy-duty vehicles is motivated by major 3 trends: CO₂ reduction, upcoming Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving stages, as well as recommendations for costs of insurance (because safer cars will have lower insurance costs). These three factors call for more technical optimizations. China, the USA, and all European regions are affected by these trends and will inevitably implement new electronics-based system solutions.

Full EHPS power steering at anytime

EHPS (Electro-hydraulic power steering) is a crucial technology for reducing CO₂ emissions in commercial vehicles. By providing the right amount of torque assistance, EHPS enables the efficient operation of hydraulic steering systems, which is essential for the smooth and precise maneuvering of these vehicles. This technology is particularly effective in reducing energy consumption and emissions, as it only provides assistance when needed, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy expenditure. Furthermore, EHPS allows for full EHPS power steering at any time, ensuring that the vehicle's steering system remains responsive and reliable, even in demanding driving conditions. As the automotive industry continues to focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, EHPS is poised to play an increasingly important role in the development of eco-friendly commercial vehicles.

Various EPS and EHPS solutions for active steering

ECU1/Level 0-1: EHPS - Pure electro-hydraulic steering benefits (basic and variable EHPS)

  • Fuel savings of 0.9 to 1.2%
  • CO₂ reduction of 6 to 11 g/km

At the same time, using limited sensors, basic EHPS has lower safety requirements compared to more complex steering systems. Due to the need for more automated driving Level 2 and higher, the EHPS and full EPS is and will be state of the art.

ECU2/Level 2: EPS with active steering benefits

  • Using EHPS for base functionality
  • Adding 1x 3-ph motor to generate torque overlay
  • Motivation: reduced accident and insurance costs, active lane keep assist

Level 3-5: Fail-operational EPS benefits

  • Full fault-tolerant steering
  • Different variants in design
  • Variants using hydraulic power
  • Variants using electric-only power steering
  • Synergies with fault-tolerant EPS for cars
  • Motivation: highly automated trucks (Level 3, Level 4)

Designed for 24 V trucks, buses, construction & agricultural vehicles

EHPS system with active lane following represents the current level of truck automation. ECU2 controls a three-phase motor (M2) acting directly on the steering wheel shaft to provide the torque overlay for system functions such as lane keep assist, lane centering function, or lane-keep steering function.

ECU1 and the three-phase motor (M1) drive the hydraulic pump, replacing the traditional belt drive from the engine. The oil pressure is maintained by an accumulator, which smooths the peak demand so that the M1 motor needs only a relatively low power rating of about 500 W. The sensors provide data on the actual steering wheel position and torque. Combined with additional data via the CAN bus on vehicle speed, lane identification, and object detection, this system allows for higher levels of driver assistance and drive automation.

Documents

Documents

Design resources

Partner solutions

Developer community

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